Muff for wind instruments



May 30, 1939. D. F. RUPERT 2,160,229

MUFF FOR WIND INSTRUMENTS Filed Sept. 27, 1957 $110116 1 K grZ Patented May 30, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to muffs for use on wind instruments and, among other objects, aims to provide a relatively simple, durable and easily removable heat insulating covering for wind instruments having keys and/or openings to be manipulated or covered by the fingers. The main idea is to provide a mufl of this type which serves the dual purpose of keeping such instruments in tune by preventing water of condensation from freezing within them and keeping the hands and fingers of the player warm while he is playing in cold weather.

Other aims and advantages of the invention will appear in the specification, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing a muff embodying the invention applied to a representative instrument;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4- of Fi 1.

Band musicians who frequently play in the open have considerable difliculty keeping their instruments in tune during extremely cold weather because of the water of condensation in the instruments freezes and causes the passages to clog as well as the keys, if any, to stick. Moreover, the fingers of the musicians become numb so that they cannot manipulate the instruments properly and it is practically impossible for them to play while wearing gloves.

It is well known that exposure to cold weather lowers the pitch of clarinets and like instruments by as much as a quarter tone flat, causing them to be flat and out of tune with other instruments in a band, for example. On the other hand, the pitch of brass wind instruments is raised as much as a quarter tone sharp, further contributing to the difference in tune of band instruments. Moreover, the tune of the instruments is further affected by expansion and contraction.

To obviate the foregoing difficulties, the present invention provides a simplified form of muff for such wind instruments as require hand manipulation, the primary object being to provide a muif adapted to maintain its shape when applied to such instruments to keep them warm and to permit ample freedom of movement of the hands or fingers of the musicians. Also, the idea is to provide a rainproof cover which may be used to shield and protect the instruments when car ried in the open. In the accompanying drawing such as muff is shown as being applied to an instrument which is representative of a clarinet, fiute,oboe, piccolo, English horn and some types of straight and curved Saxophones, it being understood that special shapes of muffs may be made for many other kinds of instruments.

Referring more particularly to the illustrative embodiment in the drawing, the preferred form of muif is applied to a straight wind instrument having a bell l0 and a mouthpiece II with usual keys l2. In this instance, the muff is composed of semi-flexible material, having a body portion l3 in the form of a bag preferably made of pelts, a piece of hide, such as suede, or other suitable semi-flexible, heat insulating material. In this instance, the body portion is made of a single piece of tanned sheep hide or suede and has a generally curved upper edge which is stitched together at H! along the major portion of its length and presents a generally straight folded or bent portion at the bottom. It is so shaped as to provide a narrow neck portion l5 adapted to conform to the throat portion of the instrument. The opposite end portion is shown as having hookless fastener elements Hi to enable the instrument to be inserted through an enlarged opening and the fastener elements closed around the neck of the bell [0.

Hand hole openings are provided in opposite sides of the muff at appropriate points to provide for the insertion of the hands to manipulate the instrument to which the muff is adapted to be applied, it being understood that the openings may be more or less elongated to provide adequate freedom of movement. In this instance, the hand hole openings are provided with cuffs I! and I8 extending outwardly and downwardly at an angle to the body portion l3 and these cuffs are preferably, though not necessarily, made of the same material as the body portion and stitched around the margins of the hand hole openings.

To provide for adequate warmth and protection of the hands and fingers of musicians in extremely cold weather, the muff and cuffs are shown as being lined with heat insulating material l9 such fleece or the like. Wool or hair on the hides or pelts Will serve this purpose. However, such lining may be applied to sheet material in any suitable or Well known manner.

To enable the operator to have access to remote keys or other parts of wind instruments, it will be understood that the muff may be irregularly shaped or provided with bellied portions in the form of patches bulging outwardly from the walls of the mufi. In this instance, there is shown a bellied patch 20 on one side of the muff near the bottom to provide adequate finger space or clearance for the player of a clarinet to reach the octave key on the lower side of the instrument tube. In Fig. 3, the patch 20 is shown in section and the thumb on the left hand of the musician is engaging a key which represents the octave key of a clarinet. It will be understood, however, that such bellied patches may be provided Whenever such access is required.

In some instances, the neck portion E5 of the muff will be provided with an elastic band or strap 2| to grip it on the throat portions of instruments of different sizes. For instruments of a given size, this band may be omitted.

From the foregoing description, it Will be understood that such muffs may be made of a wide variety of materials and are of many different shapes. They may be water-proofed if desired and the cuffs may be lengthened to protect the wrists and forearms of the musicians. Actual use has demonstrated that they are very effective to prevent freezing of Water of condensation and keep the hands sufficiently warm to play continuously in cold Weather. They will be almost indispensable to band musicians at football games, open air entertainments and the like.

Obviously, the present invention is not restricted to the particular embodiment thereof herein shown and described.

What is claimed is:

1. A muff for Wind instruments comprising a bellied bag portion having means to secure it to an instrument between the mouthpiece and bell; and hand holes in the opposite sides of the bag affording access to the keys.

2. A muff for wind instruments comprising a bellied bag portion made of semi-flexible heat insulating material; a neck portion at one end of the bag to engage the neck of an instrument adjacent to the mouthpiece; an opening at the other end of the bag to receive an instrument inserted endwise into the bag; fastening means to close the opening about the instrument and confine the operative part of the instrument in the bag portion; and hand openings in the oppo site sides of the bag aifording access to the keys.

3. A muff for wind instruments comprising an enlarged bag portion made of semi-flexible heat insulating material; a neck portion at one end of the bag to engage the neck of an instrument adjacent to the mouthpiece; an opening at the other end of the bag to receive an instrument inserted endwise into the bag; fastening means to close the opening about the instrument and confine the operative part of the instrument in the bag portion; an outwardly bellied part on the bag portion to afford adequate clearance to manipulate remote keys or operating parts of the instrument; and hand openings in opposite sides of the bag.

4. As an article of manufacture, a muff made of heat insulating material adapted to be removably secured to a wind instrument and having cuffed hand openings on opposite sides to permit access to operating parts of the instrument and to keep the hands and Wrists of the operator warm.

5. As an article of manufacture, a muff for Wind instruments comprising a bag portion made of tanned hide adapted to be secured to an instrument and cover the operating parts thereof; an opening in one end of the bag having fastening means to permit removal of the instrument; and cuffed hand openings in the sides of the bag to keep the hands of the operator warm.

6. An elongated muff for the operating parts of Wind instruments having a narrow neck at one end through which the mouthpiece of the instrument is adapted to project and a hookless fastener opening at the other end to engage the instrument behind the bell; and hand openings in the sides to permit access to the operating parts of the instrument and to keep the hands of the operator warm.

DUANE F. RUPERT. 

